220-1102 Question 200
Single answer/SystemA technician is troubleshooting a Windows 10 workstation that has become unstable after a recently installed application added low-level system components. The user reports frequent crashes and errors that began the same day. The technician wants to return critical Windows system files and settings to a previous working state without affecting the user's personal documents. Which tool should the technician use first?
- A
System Restore
- B
Disk Cleanup
- C
System File Checker (sfc /scannow)
- D
Backup and Restore (Windows 7)
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The best answer is System Restore because it is specifically intended to revert Windows system state changes such as registry modifications, driver installations, and application installs that may have destabilized the OS, without removing the user's personal files. This aligns with standard Microsoft guidance for using restore points to recover from recent configuration issues. Disk Cleanup addresses storage, not stability caused by system changes. SFC is valuable when protected system files are corrupt, but it does not roll back newly installed software or related registry changes. Backup and Restore is useful for larger recovery operations but is less targeted for this scenario. On A+ Core 2, candidates should distinguish between tools that clean files, repair system file integrity, restore prior system state, and perform full backup recovery.
- A. Correct.
Correct. System Restore is designed to roll back system files, installed applications, drivers, and registry settings to a previous restore point while leaving the user's personal files intact. In this scenario, the instability began after software installed components that affected the operating system, making System Restore the best first step.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Disk Cleanup removes temporary files, cached data, and other unnecessary files to recover storage space. It does not roll back system settings, drivers, or application-related changes that caused instability.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. System File Checker can scan and repair corrupted protected Windows system files, which is useful if the problem is caused by file corruption. However, it does not undo recently installed applications, drivers, or registry changes the way System Restore does. A candidate might choose this because it is a valid repair tool, but it is not the best first choice for reversing a recent system change.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Backup and Restore can restore files or a previously created system image, but it is not the most appropriate first tool for selectively undoing recent system changes while preserving user data in place. It is generally used for broader recovery scenarios rather than quickly reversing a recent problematic installation.